One thousand five hundred young professionals took over Omaha's CenturyLink Center for the 12th annual Greater Omaha Chamber's Young Professionals Summit Thursday.

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Updated: 1:37 PM CST Mar 10, 2017

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WEBVTT ROBINSON REPORTS, TWO MAYORALCANDIDATES TAKING ADVANTAGE OFTHE PLATFORM.REPORTER: 1500 YOUNGPROFESSIONALS TAKING OVEROMAHA'S CENTURYLINK CENTER.AND MOST OF THE ATTENDEES LIVEWORK AND VOTE IN OMAHA.>> OBVIOUSLY WE'RE THE FUTURE OFTHE CITY.REPORTER: THAT'S WHY ORGANIZERSASKED TWO OF THE MAYORALCANDIDATES TO SPEAK TO THECROWD.>> WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATEA MORE PROGRESSIVE,FUTURE-FOCUSED CITY.REPORTER: AND CURRENT MAYOR JEANSTOTHERT.>> I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SERVICEAND I BELIEVE IN MAKING ADIFFERENCE.REPORTER: THE CANDIDATES GAVESPEECHES AND ANSWERED QUESTIONSFROM THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ONPOPULAR TOPICS AMONG 20 TO40-YEAR-OLDS.LIKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ANDAFORDABLE HOUSING.>> THEY, AS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS,THEY WILL HAVE THE LARGESTINVESTMENT IN THE CITY OVER THECOMING DECADES.SO IT'S PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTTHAN EVER AT THIS STAGE IN THEIRLIFE TO START TO BECOME MOREACTIVE AND INVOLVED.REPORTER: NEBRASKANS FOR CIVICREFORM SAYS THIS AGE GROUP HASSHOWN INCREASED VOTER TURN-OUTIN PAST LOCAL ELECTIONS.>> IN 2013, DURING THE CITYELECTION, I THINK 10% OFMILLENNIALS TURNED OUT ASOPPOSED TO 33% TURNED OUT FORTHE REST OF THE CITY.REPORTER: PARTICIPANTS HOPING TOCONNECT WITH THE VISION AND HELPFOCUS IT AS WELL.>> I'VE DEVELOPED A LOT OF PRIDEFOR THE STATE OF NEBRASKA SO I'MTHINKING ABOUT JUST STICKINGAROUND AFTER GRADUATION.REPORTER: REPORTING IN OMAHA,

Mayoral candidates speak at Young Professionals Summit

One thousand five hundred young professionals took over Omaha's CenturyLink Center for the 12th annual Greater Omaha Chamber's Young Professionals Summit Thursday.

One thousand five hundred young professionals took over Omaha's CenturyLink Center for the 12th annual Greater Omaha Chamber's Young Professionals Summit Thursday.

Most of the attendees live, work and vote in Omaha.

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"Obviously, we're the future of the city," said Allison Schorr, of the Young Professionals Council.

That is why organizers asked two of the mayoral candidates to speak to the crowd.

"We have the ability to create a more progressive, future-focused city," said mayoral candidate Heath Mello.

"I believe in public service and I believe in making a difference," said incumbent mayor Jean Stothert.

The candidates gave speeches and answered questions from the young professionals on popular topics among 20- to-40 year-olds. Topics included subjects like public transportation and affordable housing.

"They, as young professionals, they will have the largest investment in the city over the coming decades. So it's probably more important than ever at this stage in their life to start to become more active and involved," said Amanda Barker, of Nebraskans for Civic Reform.

Barker said this age group has shown increased voter turn-out in past local elections.

"In 2013, during the city election, I think 10 percent of millennials turned out, as opposed to 33 percent turned out for the rest of the city," said Barker.

Participants hoped to connect with the vision and help focus it as well.

"Recently, I've developed a lot of pride for the state of Nebraska so I'm thinking about just sticking around after graduation," said University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, Shelby Janke.